Automatic phonograph



May 9, 1950 c. G. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 8, 1946 0 M0 V M Z T &

y 1950 c. G. JOHNSON 2,506,926

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed NOV. 8, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Quail;

y 9 1950 c. G. JOHNSON 2,506,926

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Nov. 8, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 [Wm 7012 Uarl 6f falmson May 9, 1950 c. s. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 8, 1946 JNVENTOR $1! 6. fiizzsan Qrw 3% w ATTORNEY C. G. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH May 9 1950 Filed Nov. 8, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 9,1950

AUTOMATIC PHONOGBAPH Carl G. Johnson, Chicago, 111., assignor to J. P.

Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 8, 1948, Serial No. 708,480

17 Claims.

ter to illustrate the mechanism, the mechanism being in the condition for the playing of the underside of a record;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section showing the auxiliary turntable and the arm which carries it clear of the record position for the playing of the topside of a record;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing the mechanism which actuates the arm which carries the auxiliary turntable to move them into the position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the machine on the line l4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail plan view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing the lower clutch and gear of the drive elements of the main cam gear;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional detail view showing the drive elements of the main cam gear, the direction of rotation of these elements being indicated by arrows, the turntable spindle rotating in the counterclockwise direction;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the elements shown in Fig. 6, the direction of rotation of these elements when the turntable spindle is rotating in the clockwise direction being shown by arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectionalplan view taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing elements which are actuated to initiate the drive of the main cam gear;

Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of the phonograph, parts thereof being broken away the better to disclose the mechanism, which is shown in an intermediate position of a cycle of the main cam gear immediately before the playing of the topside of a record on the main turntable;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the main cam gear as it is approaching its position of rest;

Fig. 12 is an inverted plan view showing the manner in which the player arm is locked out;

Fig. 13 is a sectional fragmentary plan view of part of the main cam gear and mechanism Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation showing the mechanism of Fig. 13 and associated mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the cam gear showing the mechanism of Fig. 13 conditioning the player arm for cooperation with the topside of a record on the main turntable, this figure being on a smaller scale than that employed in Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the mechanism for actuating the player arm in condition corresponding to Fig. 15, Fig. 16 being on the larger scale employed for Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevational view showing the mounting of the player arm in condition corresponding to Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan view of the arm which carries the auxiliary turntable, said tumtable being cut away to disclose the mechanism therebeneath;

Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation taken on the line l9-I9 of Fig. 18 showing the auxiliary turntable supported by its arm;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 20-40 of Fig. 19 showing part of the aviuxilih ary turnable and elements associated there- Fig. 21 is a fragmentary plan view 01' a modification of the auxiliary turntable, the auxiliary turntable being cut away and being shown in phantom to disclose the mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 22 is an eievational sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21 showing the manner in which the auxiliary turntable is supported on its arm;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section showing the manner in which the auxillary turntable arm moves upwardly to engage elements associated with the auxiliary turntable;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 showing the manner in which the auxiliary turntable is supported on its arm when the arm is fully elevated; and

Fig. 25 is an elevational view of the machine showing the auxiliary turntable supporting a record and the player arm about to engage the underside of that record.

Referring to the drawings, the phonograph comprises a base plate 30, a turntable II, a player arm 32, a pair of record dropping escapement heads 33, an auxiliary turntable 34, a supporting arm 35 for the auxiliary turntable and other co- 3 related mechanisms which will hereinafter be described.

In order to facilitate understanding of the invention I now give a brief description of its general manner of operation. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the player arm 32 is engaging the underside of a record 36 which is supported on the small auxiliary turntable 34 with the recorded surface of the record exposed. At the end of the playing of the record the player arm 32 trips the mechanism in a manner hereinafter to be described with the result that a cam gear 31 is put into rotation to make one revolution. This revolution effects lowering of the player arm 32 from the record 35, movement of the player arm 32 outwardly clear of the records, elevation of the arm 35 to lift the auxiliary turntable 34 away from the turntable or the records on the turntable on which it may be resting and the lateral displacement of the arm 35 and the auxiliary turntable 34 so that the record 36 which was resting on the auxiliary turntable 34 drops down a spindle 38 onto the turntable or the records which may have previously been dropped onto the turntable.

During the playing of the underside of the record 35 the turntable 3| and the auxiliary turntable 34 were driven in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above for proper reproduction of the recording groove by the player arm 32. When the arm 35 moves outwardly to drop the record 36 the direction of rotation of the turntable 3| is reversed so that the player arm 32 may reproduce the recording on the upper side of the dropped record. After the record is dropped the player arm 32 moves inwardly to initial playing position and then downwardly to coperate with the upper surface of the record 35 which now rests on the turntable 3| or on the stack of record built up on that turntable. During this revolution of the cam gear 31 the escapement heads 33 are not actuated. After the upper surface of the record 35 has been reproduced the tone arm trips the mechanism so that the cam gear 31 is brought into operation to make a complete revolution. This complete revolution raises the player arm 32, moves it laterally outwardly clear of the records, carries the arm 35 inwardly to bring the auxiliary turntable 34 into co-axial relation with the spindle 38, moves the arm 35 downwardly to disengage it from the auxiliary turntable 34, actuates the escapement heads 33 so that the lowermost of the stack of records 33 supported by the escapement heads drops downwardly onto the auxiliary turntable 34, moves the player arm 32 inwardly to initial playing position and then moves the player arm upwardly to engage the underside of the newly dropped record which is now in the position of the record 35 shown in Fig. 4. Before the player arm 32 engages the newly dropped record the direction of rotation of the turntable is reversed.

The present machine comprises features which are described in my co-pending application Serial No. 585,901 filed March 31, 1945, now Patent No. 2,484,570, issued October 11. 1949. The escapement heads 33 are substantially the same as the corresponding heads of that application and the drive of the heads is effected in the same manner with the exception that modifications are made in the cam gear 31 to insure actuation of the heads only on each alternate complete revolution of the cam gear. As in the previous application the escapement heads 33 can be adjusted into position for playing a stack of 12 inch records or a stack of 10 inch records and into a third position where the escapement heads are clear of the records so that a played stack may be removed from the turntable by merely lifting it up. As in the application referred to the position of adjustment of the heads 33 for 10 or 12 inch records determines the position of a member 40 which controls initial playing position of the tone arm so that the initial playing position is appropriate for the size of records for which the heads 33 are set. When the heads 33 are set for 12 inch records, as shown in Fig. 1, a stack of 12 inch records may be applied to the escapement heads with the spindle 33 extending through their central openings, so that the stack of records rests on the surfaces 4|. When the heads are oscillated in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, blades 42 carried by the escapement heads enter the stack above the lowermost record and thereafter the surfaces 4| clear the underside of the lowermost record so that the lowermost record drops down along the spindle onto the auxiliary turntable 34. The return movement of the oscillation withdraws the blades 42 from the remaining stack of records so that the stack drops down onto the surfaces 4| which are again presented to receive it.

When the heads 33 are adjusted for cooperation with a 10 inch stack they are rotated approximately in the clockwise direction as viewed from above from their position in Fig. 1 'so that the indicia 10" on one of the escapements is directed towards the spindle 33. A stack of 10 inch records applied to the escapements rests upon surfaces 43 and the escapements 33 and when the same oscillation is applied to the escapement heads the blade 44 enters the stack above the lowermost record and the surfaces 43 are withdrawn from below the lowermost record so that the lowermost record is allowed to drop onto the auxiliary turntable 34.

One of the escapement heads 33, the left hand one shown in Fig. 25, is carried by a spindle 45 which is rotatably mounted in a standard 45 carried by the base plate 30. At its lower end the spindle 45 carries a pinion 41 which meshes with a sector 45 pivotally mounted on the underside of the base plate.

The other head 33, that is the right hand head shown in Fig. 25, is mounted for limited sliding movement on a shaft 43 which is rotatably mounted in a rotatable sleeve 53 carried by a standard 5| also mounted on the base plate 33. A screw 52 carried by the head extends into a cylindrical recess 53 on the shaft 43 to limit the vertical movement of the head. At its lower end the shaft 43 rigidly carries a pinion 54. The lower end of the mounting sleeve of this head is provided with a relatively long vertical slot 55 and a relatively small slot 55. A pin 51 carried by the shaft 43 extends into the long slot 55, the arrangement being such that the pin 55 is always located in the slot 55 so that the head cannot be rotated independently of the shaft 49. When the machine is set for 10 inch records the slot 55 engages a projection 53 carried at the upper end of the sleeve 50. When the projection 58 is engaged by the small slot 55 the heads are in the '12 inch position. At its lower end the sleeve 50 rigidly carries an actuating arm 53 which eflfects oscillation of the heads 33. The pinion 54 meshes with a sector 55 pivotally mounted on the underside of the base plate 30. The sector 43 is integral with the arm 5| and the sector 88 is integral with an arm 82. The arms 8| and I! are connected by a link 83 so that the two heads always move simultaneously. It will readily be apparent that after the right hand escapement head 33 in Fig. 25 ls elevated the escapement heads are disconnected from the sleeve 58 and the actuating arm 59, the escapement heads may be located in any of their three positions by suitable actuation of the right hand escapement head. The actuating arm 59 is connected by a link 84 to a bell-crank lever 85 which is pivotally mounted at 88 on a bracket 81 which is carried by a housing 88 mounted on the underside of the base plate 38. The bellcrank lever carries an upwardly projecting cam follower 89 which cooperates with a cam track I8 provided in the undersurface of the cam gear 31. To provide for non-actuation and actuation of the heads 33 alternately during successive complete revolutions of the cam gear 31 I provide on the cam 31 a gate 1| which is pivotally mounted on the cam gear at 12. This gate diverts the cam follower 68 into a path 13 or 14. In Fig. .I have shown the cam gear rotated approximately 165 from its normal position during a revolution in which the escapements 33 are not actuated. At the beginning of this revolution the gate II was positioned so as to divert the cam follower 89 into the path I3. The gate 'II is provided with a butt which was located in the path I3. As the gate II was carried past the cam follower 89 with the cam follower on the outer side of the gate the cam follower engaged the butt I5 and swung the gate II into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 10. The cam track I8 and the path I3 constitute a circle so that the bell-crank lever 55 remains stationary during this revolution. The cam gear 31 terminates its movement after it has moved another 195 in the clockwise direction from its position in Fig. 10 and the gate II remains in its position of Fig. 10 relative to the cam gear 31 until the record brought into play by the movement of the cam gear 31 has been completed. During the next revolution of the cam gear 31 the gate 'II diverts the cam follower 89 into the path 14 which effects oscillation of the bell-crank lever 85 and the escapement heads 33 to drop a record onto the auxiliary turntable 34. During this second revolution of the cam gear 31 the cam follower 89 engages the butt I5 of the gate II so that the gate again displaces the gate II and conditions the cam track I8 for the next revolution of the cam gear during which the bellcrank lever 55 and the escapements are not actuated.

The arm 82 is provided with a cam surface I5 which is adapted to cooperate with a similar surface on a lever TI pivotally mounted on the underside of the base plate 38. The lever 11 is biased towards the arm 52 by means of a relatively strong spring I8. When the escapements are located in their 12 inch position the lever 11 is positioned as shown in Fig. 1 0, engaging the high surface I9 on the arm 52. When the escapements are in the 10 inch position the lever 11 engages the low surface 88 of the arm 82 so that it is displaced more to the right than its position in Fig. 10. The lever I'I carries a depending stud 8I which engages and partially supports the member 48 extending through a slot in the right hand extremity of this member as viewed in Fig. 10. The member 48 is also supported by means of a stud 82 depending from the member 48. The member 88 is biased towards I g the left as viewed in Fig. 18 by means of a spring 83 connected to the member 48 and to the stud 82 so that the member 48 tends to maintain the outer end of its right hand slot in engagement with the stud 8|. At its inner end the member 48 carries a downturned abutment 84 which is adapted to cooperate with a lever 85 which effects return of the player arm to initial playing position. When the machine is set for 12 inch records the abutment 84 is engaged by the surface 88 of the lever 85 and when the machine is set for 10 inch records the abutment 84 engages a surface 81 on the lever. The lever 85 is biased inwardly by means of a strong spring 88 connected to the lever and to a player arm latch member 89. The connection of the spring 88 to the latch member 89 provides very slight leverage.

The machine is driven by means of a reversible motor 98 which is controlled by a manually operated switch 9| and an automatic reversing switch 92. The motor 98 is mounted on the base plate 38 and it is provided with a driving pulley 93 which engages two rubber tired idlers 94 and 95 which engage the depending flange 96 of the turntable. The idlers 94 and 95 are rotatably carried by arms 91 and 98 which are connected to the motor by studs and slots. Arms 91 and 98 are biased together by means of a spring 99 which holds the idlers in engagement with the rim of the turntable and with the driving pinion 93 of the motor. When the turntable is being driven in the clockwise direction the driving pinion 93 is driven in the opposite direction so that the idler 95 is maintained in firm contact with the rim of the turntable by wedging action. This rotation of the driving pinion tends to move the pinion 94 away from the rim of the turntable so that the idler 94 is in effect inoperative. When the driving pinion rotates in the clockwise direction the idler 94 is brought into operation to rotate the turntable in the opposite I direction, that is the counterclockwise direction and the idler 95 is inoperative.

The player arm 32 is provided with a pickup I88 which has a record engaging needle I8I projecting downwardly to play a record on theturntable 3I and an upwardly projecting needle I82 to play the underside of a record supported on the auxiliary turntable 34. The player arm 32 is pivotally mounted on a frame I83 by means of knife edges I84 which extend into V-shaped openings I85 in upstanding sides of the frame I83. The frame I83 is rigidly carried by a sleeve I88 which is rotatably mounted in a standard I8I mounted on the base plate 38. The tail I88 on the frame I83 provides a mounting for a spring I89 which is connected to the player arm so as to counterbalance to a considerable extent the weight of the player arm and provide the proper needle pressure for theneedle on the record on the turntable. The standard I81 includes a tubular extension III) which projects downwardly below the base plate 38.

of a collar II I secured to the tubular extension H8. The collar III provides pivotal support for the lever 85. A stationary bracket H2 is rigidly mounted on the tubular extension IIII of the standard I81. Rigidly mounted on the lower end of the sleeve I86 below the tubular extension I I8 is an arm II3 which controls the lateral movements of the player arm. The vertical move the base plate and extending through a slot in a ments of the player arm are controlled by a rod The standard is rigidly mounted in position by means III which extends through the sleeve I35. Its upper end is arranged to engage adjustable abutment II carried by the player arm 32 at a point displaced from the pivot I34, I35. The lower end of the rod II4 seats in a depression H6 in a lever II1 pivotally mounted on the bracket H2. The lever H1 is arranged to ride upon a cam II3 mounted on the upper side of the cam gear 31. When the upper side of a record on the turntable 3| is to be played the lever II1 engages a low spot on the cam II3 (as best seen in Fig. 16) when the cam gear 31 is in its normal position of rest, as it always is during the playing of a record. In this case the rod II 4 is in its lowermost position so that the player arm is permitted to drop onto the record on the turntable 3I. At the end of the playing 01 the record the cam gear 31 goes into operation and the rise II3 oi! the cam II3 moves the lever I I1 upwardly so that the rod H4 is displaced upwardly to a limited extent, lifting the needle out of engagement with the record which has been played. It is to be noted that the Hit applied to the player arm by the cam rise H3 is suilicient to raise the player arm out of engagement of the topmost record of a stack of records which has built up on the turntable 3| so that the outwardly laterally movement of the player arm is effected when the needle is clear 01' the stack of records on the turntable. It is also to be noted that when a record is to be played on the turntable, the player arm is moved inwardly at an elevated position since the lever H1 is riding on the top of the cam 3. During the final movement 01' the cam gear 31 into its normal arrested position the lever I I1 rides down the cam fall I2Il of the cam II 3 so that the player arm descends into engagement with the record on the turntable 3|. When this descent occurs the player arm has been located in initial playing position for the record which is to be played.

When the underside of a record supported on the auxiliary turntable 34 is to be played the player arm 32 is moved inwardly at an intermediate position and it is biased upwardly to engage the underside of the record in its initial playing position. For this purpose I slidably mount on the upper side of the cam gear 31 a T-shaped member I2I. This T-shaped member is biased radially inwardly by means of a spring I22 into a position where it clears the lever I I1. Means, hereinafter to be described, are provided for proiectlng the T-shaped member I2I radially outwardly into a position where it cooperates with the lever II1 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. When the cam gear rotates towards its position of rest to play the underside 01' a record the T-shaped member I2I is projected outwardly so that an arcuate surface I23 on the T-shaped member I2I engages the lever I I1 and prevents it from riding down the cam fall I23. Consequently, the player arm moves inwardly at its intermediate position where it clears the stack of records on the tumtable 3I and the record which is to be played on the auxiliary turntable 34. On the T-shaped member I2I is pivotally mounted at I24 a lever I25. The free end of the lever I25 is biased upwardly by a spring I25 carried between the lever I35 and the T-shaped member I 2 I. A stop I21 carried by the T-shaped member I2I limits the upward movement of the lever I25. As the cam gear moves towards its normal position of rest the downturned free end of the lever I25 engages a cam I23 carried by the bracket II2 so as to depress the lever I25 against the upward pressure of the spring I25. Further movement of the cam gear towards its position of rest, which is illustrated in Fig. 14 brings the free end or the lever I into engagement with a cam shaped flange I23 depending from the lever II1 so that the lever H1 is gradually raised, the cam I23 becoming gradually ineilective. At the position of rest as shown in Fig. 14 the rod I I4 has elevated the player arm so that it cooperates with the underside of the record on the auxiliary turntable 34. The weight oi. the player arm, the tension of the spring I33 and the upward pressure of the spring I25 are co-related so that the proper upward needle pressure is obtained.

To summarize the recent description, the vertical movements of the player arm when the underside of a record is to be played are con trolled by the cooperation of the lever II1 with the elements on the T-shaped member I2I as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. When the upper side 01 a record is to be played the elements on the T-shaped member I2I are clear of the lever II1 so that the vertical movements of the tone arm are controlled by the cam tall I23 in cooperation with the lever II1.

It is to be noted that after playing the underside of a record the cam gear 31 again goes into operation, the lever I25 moves to the right as viewed in Fig. 14 clearing the lever II1 so that this lever is now engaged by the cam II3 which maintains the player arm at an intermediate position during its lateral withdrawal away from the record positions.

The cam gear 31 is mounted for free rotation on a shaft I by means of its hub I3I with the aid 01' spacers I32. The shaft I33 is supported by the base plate 30 and an arm I33 which extends from the housing 83. The cam gear is provided with a flange I34 and below the flange with a circumferential series of teeth I35. The teeth I35 mesh with a pinion I 35 which is integral with a bevel gear I31. The pinion I35 and gear I31 are mounted for free rotation on the turntable spindle 38. The bevel gear I31 meshes with an idler I38 which also meshes with a bevel gear I33 mounted for free rotation on the spindle 33 and in spaced relation to the bevel gear I31. Between the gears I31 and I3! a collar I43 is rigidly secured to the turntable spindle 33. The collar I43 is provided with two series of ratchet teeth I and I42 which are spaced in the vertical direction so that the teeth I 4| cooperate with a dog I43 pivotally mounted on the gear I31 and the teeth I42 cooperate with a similar dog I44 pivotally mounted on the gear I33. The dogs I43 and I44 are biased towards the teeth I and I42 by springs I45 connected to each dog and to the gear with which the dog is associated. It will readily be seen that when the dogs are allowed to engage their ratchet teeth the turntable spindle will drive the cam gear 31 in the same direction, that is the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above, irrespective of the direction of rotation of the turntable spindle 33. When the turntable spindle is rotating in the clockwise direc tion as viewed from above the collar I43 rotates v in the same direction and one of the teeth I terclockwise direction as viewed from above the teeth I ratchet past the dog I43 but the teeth I42 drive the dog I44 in the counterclockwise direction. The gear I39 now drives the gear I31 in the clockwise direction through the idler I38 so that the cam gear 31 is again driven in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, the drive of the cam gear is alwayseilected in the same direction irrespective of the direction of rotation of the motor 90 When a member I46 is biased towards the dogs I43 and I44 it enters between the tails of the dogs and when the dogs engage the member I46 the dogs are moved outwardly away from the teeth HI and I42 so that the drive of the cam gear is terminated. When the member I46 is withdrawn from between the dogs I43 and I44 the dogs engage the teeth I 4I and I42 with the result that the cam gear is driven in the counterclockwise direction as explained above. As will hereinafter be explained the member I46 engages the dogs I43 and I44 during the playing of a record so that the cam gear 31 is stationary. At the end of the playing of a record the player arm trip which will hereinafter be described effects the withdrawal of the member I46 so that the cam gear 31 is driven through a complete revolution. At the end of this complete revolution the member I46 is again projected into cooperation with the dogs I43 and I44 so that the drive of the cam gear 31 is terminated. When this occurs a spring pressed dog I41 is in registry with a notch I48 in the flange I34 of the cam gear so that the cam gear is held stationary during the playing of a record.

The arm II3 which is rigidly mounted on the lower end of the sleeve I06 so as to move with the horizontal movements of the player arm, carries an upwardly projecting member I49 which registers with a flange I50 on the lever 85. A weak spring II mounted on the lever 85 is arranged to engage the member I49 of the arm II3 so as to bias the player arm inwardly with a slight force. The arm II3 carries a depending pin I52 which is arranged to engage a cam I53 on the upper side of the cam gear 31. The position of rest of the cam gear 31 is shown in Fig. 11 and it is to be noted that the arm H3 is free to move inwardly as the record is being played, thelever 85 being prevented from following it by its engagement with the abutment 84. The player arm actuates the trip at the end of the playing of the record at which time the pin I52 is at an inner position near the axis of the cam gear. The cam gear starts to rotate and the rise I54 on the cam I53 engages the pin I52'moving it outwardly. The member I49 engages the flange I50 as the player arm moves outwardly beyond initial playing position, carrying the lever 85 outwardly against the tension of its spring 88. The dwell I55 on the cam I53 holds the player arm out in its extreme position until the record has been dropped. Then the pin I52 moves inwardly over the fall I56 of the cam I53 towards initial playing position. In thus moving inwardly the pin I52 engages a lever I51 pivotally mounted on the cam gear biased outwardly by a, spring I56. The strong spring 88 forces the pin I52 inwardly as this pin moves along the fall I56 until the lever 85 engages the abutment 84 and the player arm is returned to initial playing position. A shoulder I59 on the cam I53 serves as an abutment for the arcuate lever I51. An extension I60 is pivotally mounted on the lever I51 and is normally biased into its position in full lines in Fig. 11 by a spring I6I. A stop I62 on the extension 10 I60 is arranged to engage the lever I51 so as to define this position. The springs I58 and I6I are arranged so that the lever I51 and its extension I 60 are biased outwardly with a force which is overcome by the spring 88 of the lever 85. This outward force is however suflicient to overcome the inward bias provided by the spring I5I. Consequently, continued rotation of the cam gear clears the extension I60 from the'pin I52 at a time when the player arm has been brought into engagement with the record in its initial playing position and the weak spring I5I then becomes eiiective to apply a gentle force to the player arm bringing its stylus into engagement with the groove of the record to be played.

The arm II3 carries a serrated arcuate edge I63 which is adapted to engage a dog I64 pivotally mounted on a latch lever I65 which is pivotally mounted on the cam gear 31 at I66. The dog I64 is biased into its normal position by a spring I61. Normally the latch I65 engages a threearmed lever I68 which is pivotally mounted on the cam gear 31, maintaining this lever in its position of Fig. 4. As the player arm moves inwardly on the record the serrated edge I63 engages the dog I64 and moves past this dog. When the movement of the player arm is reversed owing to to the stylus moving into an eccentric terminal groove on the record, the serrated edge I63 sends the dog I64 and the lever I65 in the clockwise direction as viewed from above so that the lever I68 moves in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 withdrawing one of its arms from the lever I69. The lever IE5 is biased towards the lever I66 by a spring I10. The latching position is shown in Fig. 15. The lever I69 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis I" on a frame I12 which is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis I13 on the housing 68. The frame I12 carries the member I46 and the frame is biased inwardly by a spring I14. The lever I69 partially overlies a disc I15 rigidly carried by the turntable spindle 38. When the lever I68 is unlatched to drop into its position in Fig. 6 the lever I69 rests on the disc I15. An eccentric pin I16 carried by the disc I15 engages the edge I11 and swings the lever I69 and the frame I12 about the axis I13 so that the member I46 is moved outwardly clear of the dogs I 43 and I44 as shown in full lines in Fig. 8 thus starting the drive of the cam gear 31. An abutment I18 carried by the frame I12 is normally located in a recess I19 in the flange I34 of the cam gear 31. When the frame I12 is swung outwardly and the cam gear'31 starts to move the abutment I18 engages the flange I34 so that the member I 46 is held out until near the end of the complete revolution of the cam gear 31. At that time the lever I68 has been returned to its normal latched position so that the lever I 69 is elevated near the end of the complete revolution of the cam gear by engagement of its cam surface I with the arm of the lever I68 which projects to the right in Fig. 4. Consequently, when the abutment I18 drops into the recess I19 in the flange I34 the frame I12 is swung back to its normal position introducing the member I46 into its phantom position in Fig. 8 so that the dogs I43 and I44 are disconnected from the turntable spindle. The cam gear coasts into its arrested position shown in Fig. 15 with the spring pressed dog I41 in the notch I48 of the flange I34 of the cam gear 31. The lever I68 is reset by a cam I8I carried by the arm H3. The arm H3 is in its outermost position when the lever I68 is reset by the cam I8I.

The arm I I3 also carries an abutment I82 which 11 is arranged to engage an abutment I88 carried by the latchl 85 so that the latch is unlatched at the end of the playing of a record provided with a spiral terminal groove. The latch is also arranged to be actuated manually by an abutment I84 depending from a slide I85 which is slidably mounted on the underside of the base plate 88. The member I85 also carries a depending arm I88 which is adapted to engage the upstanding arm of the lever I88 so as to prevent the lever from moving into unlatched position. The member I85 is connected by a link I81 to a control bar I88 slidably mounted on the underside of the base plate 88. The bar I88 is actuated manually by a button I88 located on the upper side of the base plate 88.

The switch II is actuated by a lever I88 pivotally mounted at I8I on a bracket I82. The lever I88 carries a depending pin I88 which is located in a slot I84 in the bar I88. When the button I88 is in the "Oil!" position the pin I88 is located in a laterally oiIset portion I85 of the slot I84 and the switch is in the OE position. When the bar I88 is moved to any other position the switch M is in the On position and the motor 88 is operat- When the button I88 is displaced from the "01? position to the right the machine is conditioned for manual operation. The link I81 moves the slide I85 outwardly so that the abutment I88 engages the upstanding arm of the lever I88 so that this lever is not permitted to drop. Consequently, the cam gear I81 is maintained inoperative. When the slide I85 is in this condition a downturned flange I88 engages the latch member 88 so that the latch member now cooperates with the double beveled tip of an arm I81 carried by the arm II8. Consequently, the player arm is merely latched out when it is moved to its extreme outward position and it may be moved in manually against slight resistance. Means including a slider I88 are provided so that the lever 85 is locked in its outermost position when the player arm is moved outwardly into its outermost position after the bar I88 has been put in the manual position. These means are substantially similar to the means having this function described in my copending application referred to above.

When the button I88 is moved from its normal Oi! position to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, the switch 8| is closed and the machine is conditioned for automatic playing. In this position the flange I88 is out of engagement with the latch member 88 so that the latch member engages the side of the arm I81 in the manner shown in Fig. 12 so that the player arm becomes locked out when it is moved outwardly automatically by the cam I58. The latch member 88 comprises an arm I88 which cooperates with a cam formation 288 on the upper side of the cam gear 81 above its flange I84. This cam formation overlies part of the recess I18 provided in the flange I84. The cam formation 288 is located so that it unlatches the latch member 88 when the cam follower I52 moves down the cam fall I58 on the cam I58 so that the player arm is moved inwardly by the conjoint action of the cam I58 and the lever 85.

In Figs. 1, 2, 4, 18, 19 and 20 I have shown one form of auxiliary turntable 84 and associated mechanisms. As best seenin Fig. 19 the auxiliary turntable comprises the upper flat portion of a spool shaped member. It is connected by a central tubular portion 28I to a flat disc 282 which is arranged to rest on the turntable or on a stack of records on the turntable. When the auxiliary 12 turntable 84 is in playing position the turntable spindle 88 is accommodated within the tubular portion 28I. to be carried bodily by an arm 85, this arm being provided with a ring formation 288 at its end remote from the pivoted end of the arm. This ring formation' is arranged to support and carry the spoollike structure which provides the auxiliary turntable 84 as shown in Fig. 19. The arm 85 is rigidly carried by a shaft 284 which is rigidly mounted in a standard 285 carried by base plate 88. This shaft is arranged for vertical and rotary movements. When a record is being played on the auxiliary turntable the shaft 284 is in'its lowermost position so that the spoollike structure rests on the turntable or on a stack of records on the turntable with all parts of the arm 85 out of contact with it. At the end of the playing of a record on the auxiliary turntable the shaft 284 is elevated so that the ringlike structure 288 engages the underside of the auxiliary turntable 84 and lifts the spoollike structure of! the tum- .table or off a stack of records which may have built up on the turntable. Then the arm 85,15 moved laterally outwardly so as to bring the spoollike structure clear of the records allowing the record which has been played on the auxiliary turntable 84 to drop onto the turntable or the stack of records which may have built up thereon. The auxiliary turntable remains in this outward position until after the record dropped therefrom has been reproduced on the turntable 8 I. Thereafter the arm 85 moves inwardly-in elevated position bringing the auxiliary turntable 84 into alignment with the turntable spindle 88 and then the arm 85 moves downwardly. clear of the spoollike structure.

In order that the arm 85 and the spoollike structure may move into and out of co-axial relation to the turntable spindle 88 by lateral movement I provide in the ringlike structure 288 an arcuate slot 288. I also provide an arcuate slot 281 in the auxiliary turntable 84 and in the disc 282 a similar registering slot 288. A vertical slot 288 is provided in the tubular portion 28! which registers with-the upper and lower slots 281 and 288. Means are provided for bringing the spoollike structure into a deflnite position shown in Figs. 2 and 18 with all the slots in register. When thus located the general arcuate slot is located so that the center of the shaft 284 is the center of the are. It will readily be understood that when the spoollike structure is thus located on the arm the arm may be moved in so that the spoollike structure is brought into co-axial relation with the turntable spindle 88, the spindle being located in the slot during the inward movement of the arm 85. Likewise, at the end of the playing of a record on the auxiliary turntable 84 the spoollike structure is thus located and the arm 85 may be moved outwardly, the spindle 88 being accommodated in the combined slot during the outward movement. The ringlike structure 288 is provided with a circumferential series of upwardly directed rollers 2I8. The rollers 2I8 are arranged to engage a circular track 2 II provided on the underside of the auxiliary turntable 84. On each side of the track the metal forming the auxiliary turntable 84 is flared away from the track 2 so that the rollers 2I8 serve to position the spoollike structure in co-axial relation to the ring structure 288. On the underside of the arm 85 I pivot a latch member 2| 2 so that a detent 2I8 on the latch member 2I2 is biased upwardly by gravity throu h a slot 2. The detent 2 I8 is The spoollike structure is arranged.

arranged so that it automatically enters a recess 2 l5 provided between two fragmentary cylindrical ramps M6 and 2. The portion of the ramp 2"; adjacent the recess M5 is longer than the adjacent portion of the ramp 2". When the arm 35 is raised after the playing of the underside of a record the turntable and spoollike struc ture are rotating in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above. Consequently the detent 2I3 of the latch engages the longest part of the ramp 2l6 arresting the spoollike structure and continued upward movement of the arm 35 brings the detent 2l3 of the latch into the recess 2l5 thus positioning the spoollike structure so that its combined arcuate slot is related to the center of the axis of the shaft 294 as center. It is to be noted that the detent 2 l3 of the latch 2 l2 may first hit the sloping surface of the ramp 2". In this case the detent M3 is depressed until it arrives into register with the recess 2l5 whereupon it enters the recess. It will thus be seen that the spoollike structure is latched into its definite position relative to the arm 35 and when this arm again moves inwardly the combined slot is located to receive the turntable spindle as the spoollike structure is moved into alignment with that spindle. When that alignment has been attained the arm 35 moves downwardly so that the spoollike structure rests on the turntable 3| or on a stack of records built up on the turntable with the arm 35 clear of the spoollike structure.

The mechanism for effecting the movements of the arm 35 will now be described. A link 2l3 pivoted on a bracket on the frame 68 is plvotally connected to a sliding member 2 I9. At the point of connection the link carries a cam follower 220 which follows the alternate cam tracks 22l and 222 on the underside of the cam gear 31. In Fig. 10 I have shown the elements 2l8 and H9 at an intermediate portion of a cycle occuring after the playing of a record on the auxiliary turntable 34. During this cycle the escapement heads 33 are not actuated and consequently the gate H diverted the cam follower 69 along the cam track 13 and the gate ll was ctuated for the next cycle of cam gear 31. The cam follower 223 had its initial position at the spot indicated by the reference number 223 in Fig. 10. 1 A gate 224 diverted the cam follower 220 into the track 22I so that the sliding member 2 l 9 has been moved outwardly to almost its fullest extent. The cam follower 2!! is about to enter a large dwell on the cam track 22 I. At the end of the rotation of the cam gear 31 the cam follower 2l9 is approximately in the position indicated by the reference member 225 on Fig. 10 so that the arm 35 is left in its outward position. During this cycle the player arm is operated to play the record which was last dropped on the turntable 3| by the withdrawal of the arm 35. The gate 224 is provided with an enlarged butt 226 which is shown in Fig. 10 as about to be engaged by the cam follower 220.

Upon the next cycle of the cam gear 31 the cam follower 220 moves inwardly towards the center of the cam gear 31 following the portion of the cam track 22l to the right of the position 225 and the cam track 222 into which it is diverted by the displaced gate 224. The cam gear 31 again comes to rest with the cam follower 220 in the position 223. In arriving at this position the cam follower 229 has again displaced the gate 226 into its position in Fig. 10 for the next cycle.

It may here be noted that the inner end of the T-shaped member |2l is offset and extends through an opening in the cam gear so that its butt 221 is located within the cam track 222 as best seen in Fig. 10. Consequently, as the cam follower moving through the cam track 222, approaches the position 223, the T-shaped member l2l is projected outwardly so that the player arm is elevated by the mechanism on-the T- shaped member as shown in Fig. 14. The stationary position of the cam gear 31 when playing the underside of a record on the auxiliary turntable 34 is shown in Fig. 4 and at that time the cam follower 220 is located at the position 223, the T-shaped member 22l being directed towards the player arm pivot when the camgear is at rest. The butt 221 of the T-shaped member I 2| is of such dimension that it is engaged by the cam follower 229 over a substantial angle towards the end of a revolution of the cam gear 3'! and in the initial part of the movement of the cam gear 31. Consequently, the T-shaped member is maintained in operative projected position for a sufiicientlength of time to insure the appropriate manipulation of the player arm. At the end of the cycle of the cam gear 31 as shown in Fig. 10 the cam follower 229 is in the position 225 and the T-shaped member l2l is not projected so that the vertical movements of the player arm are controlled by the cam fall I20 so that in this case the player arm moves downwardly to engage the upper side of a record on the turntable 3|. The T-shaped member IN is guided for radial movement by engagement of opening therein with the hub of the cam gear 31, by engagement of a slot 228 with a stud 229 on the upper side of the cam gear 31 and by means of a downward projection 230 which rides in a radial slot in the cam gear 31 as best seen in Fig. 14.

The sliding member M9 is bent at 23! (Fig. 4) to provide a vertical flange 232. The horizontal flange 233, integral with the flange 232 rests upon a bracket 234 which projects laterally from a plate 235 depending from the base plate 30. The flange 233 is guided by a stud 236 carried by the bracket 234 and extending through a longitudinal slot 231 as best seen in Fig. 10. The extremity of the flange 233 is bent upwardly to provide an abutment 238. The extremity of the flange 232 is'bent three times to provide a cam track 239 which is inclined inwardly and upwardly. As best shown in Fig. 4 the cam track 239 begins at the position of the abutment 238 and terminates inwardly thereof. The inner end of the cam track has its underside running into the upper surface of the flange 232 as best seen in Fig. 4. When the sliding member '2 I9 is in its innermost position, as viewed in Fig. 4, a cam follower 240 carried by a lever 24! which is pivotally mounted on the plate 235 at 242, is located in the lowermost part of the cam track 239. As the sliding member 219 is projected outwardly the cam follower 240 rides up the cam track 239 swinging the lever 24I upwardly. The extremity of this lever engages the lower end of the shaft 204 so that the arm 35 is raised to its highest position, the cam follower 240 rolling along the upper edge of the flange 232 during the latter part of the outward movement of the sliding member 2). The outermost position of the sliding member 2l9 is shown in Fig. 3. Rigidly secured to the lower end of 'the shaft 20! is a fitting 243 which comprises an arm 244 which carriesa set screw 245. The fitting 243 also provides an arm 246 which carries a downwardly projecting member 241, which is arranged to cooperate wlth the abutment 233. The arm 35 is biased towards its inward position, that is, its position in which the auxiliary turntable 34 is in alignment with the turntable spindle, by means of a spring 243 which is connected to the arm 244 and to a member 243 on the other side of the plate 235. The member 243 is pivotally connected to the fitting 243 and is provided with a roller 253 which rides up and down on the plate 235 as the arm 35 is moved up and down. The set screw 245 engaging the plate 235 serves as a stop for the inward movement of the arm 35 and adjustment of the auxiliary turntable into coaxial relation with the spindle can be attained by adjusting the screw 245.

When the sliding member 2 IQ is in its innermost position as shown in Fig.4, the arm 35 is in its lowermost position and the spoollike structure which provides the auxiliary turntable 34 is in alignment with the turntable spindle 33. As the sliding member 2|3 is projected outwardly the cam follower 243 rides up the inclined cam track 233 raising the arm 35 upwardly so that it lifts the spoollike member and the record 35 resting thereon. This raises the fitting 243 so as to bring the abutment 241 into register with the flange 233. Continued outward movement of the sliding member 2|3 brings the flange 233 into engagement with the abutment 241 so that the arm 35 is swung outwardly in its elevated position. the cam follower 243 riding along the upper edge of the flange 232. Before the arm 35 is thus moved outwardly the spoollike structure has been 'brought into its definite position on the arm 35 so that the combined slot referred to above moves out clear of the turntable spindle 33. It will thus be understood that in one cycle of the cam gear 31, the cam follower 223 is initially at the position 223 (Fig. 10) on the cam gear and during the first half of the revolution the cam follower 223 moves through its position on Fig. 10 so that the sliding member 2|3 has been pushed outwardly moving the auxiliary turntable 34 clear of the record which has just been played thereon. This record drops onto the stack of records on the turntable 3|. Continued rotation of the cam gear brings the cam follower 223 to approximately the position indicated at 225 on the cam gear 31 (Fig. 10) so that the arm remains in its elevated and outward position while the upper surface of the record which dropped onto the turntable is played. On the next cycle of the cam gear 31 the cam follower 223 starting from the position 225 moves rapidly inwardly during approximately the first quarter of the revolution so that the sliding member 2|3 is moved in about half its travel bringing the abutment 238 away from the abutment 241 so that the spring 243 moves the arm 35 inwardly to the co-axial position of the auxiliary turntable 34 with the turntable spindle 33. The arm 35 is maintained elevated by the cam follower 243 riding on the upper edge of the flange 232. The cam follower 223 now rides around the dwell of approximately half a revolution provided by the cam track 222 so that the elevated and coaxial position of the auxiliary turntable 34 is maintained. After the arm 35 is moved inwardly the escapement heads 33 are actuated to drop a record by the cam follower 33 passing through the cam track 14. Consequently, the lowermost record of the stack supported on the escapement heads 33 drops onto the auxiliary turntable 34. Continued movement of the cam gear moves the sliding member 2" further inwardly so that the cam follower 243 runs down the cam track 233 bringing the arm 35 downwardly to its lowermost position so that the spoollike structure is caused to rest on the turntable 3| or on the stack of records which may have built up on the turntable.

The reversing switch 32 is best shown in Pig. 4. It comprises a pair of'contacts 251 which are normally in engagement so that the turntable 3| is driven in the counterclockwise direction. When the other pair of contacts 252 are engaged the turntable 3| is driven in the opposite direction. Associated with the center pole of the switch is a flexible arm 253 which is biased upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. The arm 253 is connected to the movable pole of the switch by means of a horseshoe spring 254. The arrangement is such that when the arm 253 is free to move upwardly to its normal position the switch closes the contacts Upon the lever 2|3 is carried a block of insulation 255. As the sliding member 2" approaches its most outward position the block 255 engages ,the arm 253 and depresses it so that the spring 254 snaps the switch so as to close the contacts 252 reversing the motor. The block 255 holds the switch in this condition until the next cycle of the cam gear 31 and when the arm 35 begins to move inwardly the block 255 clears the arm 253 so that the switch attains its normal position shown in Fig. 4 and the motor is again reversed.

It will thus be seen that the motor is reversed after each side of a record is played and before the beginning of the playing of the next side of a record.

The motor 33 may be any suitable kind of reversible motor such as a reversible shaded pole motor or a split phase motor, the direction of rotation depending upon which switch 25| or 252 is closed.

In Figs. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 I have shown a modification of the auxiliary turntable 34 and the spoollike structure which does, however, operate in the same general manner as the embodiment of these elements first described. In this modification the auxiliary turntable 34 is the upper disc of a spoollike structure which is supported by a base 232. The spoollike structure is supported by a, ringlike structure 233 carried by the arm 35 The ringlike structure and the spoollike structure are provided with slots which are arranged to come into alignment to accommodate the turntable spindle 33 as the spoollike structure is brought into and out of co-axial relation with the turntable spindle. In this modification the spoollike structure is arranged to move into its definite position relative to the arm 35 by gravity. In this modification the ringlike structure 233 is provided with two concentric tracks 253 and 251 which are adapted to receive rollers 253 carried by two sets of pins 253, depending from the auxiliary turntable 34. Each track 253 and 251 is provided by two semicircular (in plan) helical segments so that the track 253 is provided with a peak 233 and a low point 25|, and the track 251 is provided with a peak 252 and a low point 233. The peaks 233 and 252 are located diametrically oppositely; likewise the two low points 23| and 233. The pins 253 are graduated in length. Thus. the uppermost pin 253 shown in Fig. 21 is short. The next pin in theclockwise direction is of medium length. The next pin in the clockwise direction is long and the last pin in the clockwise direction is again of medium length. The pin 253 of the inside series of pins which is lowermost as viewed in Fig. 21 is of medium length. The next pin 289 in the clockwise direction is long. The next pin in the clockwise direction is of medium length and the last pin in the clockwise direction is short. The variation in length between adjacent pins corresponds to the slope of the tracks 256 and 251. The arrangement is such that when the arm 35 is elevated each of the tracks 256 and 251 engages at least two of the rollers 258 and as the upward movement of the arm 35 continues the spoollike structure rotates in one direction or the other, the engaged rollers riding down one side of each track until the rollers carried by the longest pins 259 rest on the lowermost points of the two tracks. In this position the slots on the spoollike structure register with the slot in the ringlike structure 283 and the general arcuate slot is located in arcuate relation to the center of the shaft 284 as center. The arrangement is such that three rollers of one series of pins 259 engage one track and two rollers of the other series of pins initially engages the other track. Since the locations of engagement are substantially diametrically opposite the auxiliary turn table 34 and the record carried thereby are maintained horizontal. If desired, I may provide two complete circumferential series of pins 259 but I find that this is not necessary if the two series are located generally in diametric onposition as shown in Fig. 21. I prefer to provide stop means to arrest the spoollike structure in its critical position and prevent any tendency of the spoollike structure from moving past this critical position due to inertia. I provide a stop 264 depending from the auxiliary turntable 34. This stop is adapted to engage a movable stop 265 when the spoollike structure reaches or approaches its critical position. The movable stop 265 is loosely mounted on the arm 35 by means of a screw 266 and it is provided with a tail 261'which is adapted to engage abutments 268 and 269 on the arm 35. The movement permitted to the movable stop 265 by the abutment 268 and 269 is sufflcient to take care of the size of the depending stop 264. Thus, when the spoollike structure arrives at its critical position by a clockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 21 the stop 264 engages the stop 265 and brings the tail 261 into engagement with the abutment 269, whereby the spoollike structure is definitely arrested in its definite position. If the spoollike structure arrives at its critical position by a counterclockwise movement, as viewed in Fig. 21, the stop 264 engages the other side of the stop 265 and swings this stop so that its tail 261 engages the abutment 268 and again the spoollike structure is arrested in its definite position. It will, of course, be understood that when the arm 35 descends to place the spoollike structure on the turntable 3I or upon a stack of records carried by the turntable all the elements carried by the arm 35 are clear of all the elements carried by the spoollike structure, as is shown in Fig. 25.

The bar I88 is held in Manual, Oil and Automatic position by engagement of a spring pressed dog 218 with notches 21I, 212 and 213 m the bar I88. Adjacent the notch 213 the bar I88 is formed to provide a cam 214. When the button I89 is moved to Reject position the dog 218 rides up the inclined surface of the cam 214 so that the bar I88 is moved back to Automatic position immediately the button I89 is manually released.

when the bar I88 is moved to Manual position the arm I86 on the slide I is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 so that the three armed lever I68 is held elevated so that the cam gear 31 cannot be driven. For Manual" playing, the bar I88 should be moved to Manual position when the arm 35 is out and the player arm is cooperating with a record on the turntable 3|. After the machine is conditioned so that the player arm is biased upwardly, the bar I88 may be moved momentarily to Reject position so that the cam gear 31 is put into cycle so as to condition the machine for playing on the turntable 3 I the arm 35 moving outwardly and the motor 98 drives the turntable 3| in the clockwise direction as viewed from above. The bar I88 is now moved to the Manual position and the machine can be used as a manual record player. When the player arm is moved outwardly manually the lever 85 is latched out so that the player arm is capable of movement either manually or by the grooves on the records. As previously described, location of the bar I88 in Manual position moves the latch member 89 outwardly so that it cooperates with the double beveled end of the. arm I91. Consequently, during manual operation the latch member 89 serves merely as a latch member which applies only slight resistance to manual displacement of the player arm inwardly from its extreme outward position.

After the machine has played a stack of records on both sides the cam gear 31 executes a cycle which brings the player arm inwardly and upwardly and brings the arm 35 inwardly. The button I89 should be moved to Reject position so that the cam gear 31 executes another cycle bringing the arm 35 outwardly and the player arm inwardly and downwardly into engagement with the topside of the topmost record of the stack which has accumulated on the turntable 3I The button I89 is moved to the Off position. The player arm is moved outwardly manually so that it is locked out by the latch member 89. The escapement heads 33 are rotated manually clear of the records by manual actuation of the right hand escapement head shown in Fig. 25. The stack of records is now removed from the turntable 3| by lifting it upwardly and the escapement heads 33 are positioned, again by manual actuation of the right hand head shown in Fig. 25, for the next stack of records which it is desired to play. The new stack is then placed on the escapement heads 33 with the turntable spindle 38 extending upwardly through their central openings. The button I89 is then moved to Reject position and released so that the cam gear is put into operation with the result that the arm 35 moves inwardly and seats the spoollike structure on the turntable, the motor 98 now drives the turntable 3| in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above. The escapement heads 33 operate so as to release the lowermost record onto the auxiliary turntable 34. The player arm is unlocked by the action of the cam 288 on the cam gear 31 so that the player arm vmoves inwardly under the joint control of the lever 85, the cam I53 and the lever I51. During this cycle the T-shaped member I2I is projected so that the player arm is moved upwardly to reproduce the underside of the record supported on the auxiliary turntable 34. After this side of the record has been played the cam gear 31 executes a cycle in which the escapement heads 33 are not actuated, the arm 35 is moved outwardly so that the record, the underside of which 19 has just been played, drops onto the turntable. The player arm moves outwardly so that it does not interfere with the dropping record and then the player arm moves inwardly and downwardly to reproduce the topside of the record on the turntable 3|. This operation continues indefinitely until the underside and then the topside of each record of the stack has been reproduced.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of the preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a spindle projecting upwardly from said turntable, a rigid structure arranged to be located so as to rest on the turntable and on records supported thereon in co-axial relation to said spindle, said structure comprising an elevated auxiliary turntable of small size arranged to support a record in coaxial relation to said turntable and with the recording groove on its underside exposed, player arm means arranged to cooperate with the upper side of a record and arranged to cooperate with the underside of a record on said auxiliary turntable, means for driving the turntable in one direction when the player arm means is cooperating with one side of a record and for driving the turntable and auxiliary turntable in the opposite direction when the player arm means is cooperating with the underside of a record on the auxiliary turntable, a movable member for moving said structure clear of the record supported thereby, and means for maintaining the last mentioned record in coaxial relation to said turntable when the structure is thus removed whereby said record is freed to drop onto the turntable.

2. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a spindle projecting upwardly from said turntable,

spindle and laterally clear of records through whose central openings the spindle extends, said inward and outward movements, means on said a rigid structure arranged to be located so as to rest on the turntable and on records supported thereon in co-axial relation to said spindle. said structure comprising an elevated auxiliary turntable of small size so that the recording groove on the underside of a record supported thereon is exposed, player arm means, means for causing said player arm means to cooperate alternately with the underside of a record on said auxiliary turntable and with the upper side of a record on said turntable, means for supplying a record to the auxiliary turntable in said co-axial position, a movable member for moving said rigid structure outwardly clear of the record supported thereon after the playing of the underside of a record on its auxiliary turntable, means for retaining said record in coaxial relation to said turntable when the structure is thus removed whereby said record drops onto the turntable, and means for moving said movable member to bring said rigid structure into co-axial position with the turntable, and means for driving the turntable in one direction during the playing of a record thereon and for driving the turntable and the auxiliary turntable in the opposite direction when a. record is being played on the auxiliary turntable.

3. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a

' spindle projecting upwardly from said turntable,

" rigid structure into co-axial relation to said structure and arm for arresting said structure on its arm to provide the alignment of said slots with said path, said structure comprising an elevated auxiliary turntable of small size so that the recording groove of a record supported thereon is exposed, player arm means arranged to cooperate with the upper side of a record on said turntable and the underside of a record on said auxiliary turntable, and means for driving the turntable in one direction when the player arm means is cooperating with a record thereon and for driving the turntable and auxiliary turntable in the opposite direction when the player arm means is cooperating with a record on the auxiliary turntable.

4. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a spindle projecting upwardly from the center of the turntable, a rigid structure arranged to be located so as to rest on the turntable and on records supported thereon, a movable arm arranged to carry said rigid structure into co-axial relation to said spindle and laterally clear of records through whose central openings the spindle extends, said rigid structure and said arm being provided with slots alignable with the path of the spindle relative to the arm and rigid structure during their inward and outward movements, means on said arm and structure for arresting said structure on its arm to provide the alignment of said slots with said path, said structure comprising an elevated auxiliary turntable of small size so that the recording groove of a record supported thereon is exposed, player arm means, means for causing said player arm means to cooperate alternately with the underside of a record on said auxiliary turntable and the upper side of a record on said turntable, means for supplying a record to the auxiliary turntable in said co-axial position, means for moving said rigid structure outwardly after the playing of a record on its auxiliary turntable, whereby said record drops onto the turntable andfor moving said rigid structure into co-axial position after the playing of the upper side of said record, and means for driving the turntable in one direction during the playing of a record thereon and for driving the turntable and the auxiliary turntable in the opposite direction when a record is being played on the auxiliary turntable.

5. A phonograph comprising a rotatable table. a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a rigid structure arranged to seat on said table and on records supported thereon to rotate therewith, said structure comprising a small elevated turntable arranged to support a record in alignment with said turntable and with the recording groove on its underside exposed, a player arm arranged to cooperate with said underside, means for rotating said table and said auxiliary turntable in appropriate direction for reproduction of said underside by said player arm, means for moving said structure laterally clear of the played record, and means for retaining said record in alignment with said table whereby said record is freed to drop onto said table.

6. A phonograph comprising a rotatable table.

said structure comprising a small elevated turntable arranged to support a record with the recording groove on its underside exposed, a player arm arranged to cooperate with said underside, an arm arranged to support said rigid structure and carry it into co-axial relation to said spindle and clear of a record which has been played on its turntable, whereby the played record drops onto the table, said arm and structure being prorecords supported thereon to rotate therewith,.

said structure comprising a small elevated turntable arranged to support a record with the re cording groove on'its underside exposed, escapement means arranged to support a stack of records above said turntable with the spindle extending through their central openings, means for actuating said escapement means to release the lowermost record of the stack to drop onto the auxiliary turntable, a player arm arranged to cooperate with said underside, means for rotat ing said table and said auxiliary turntable in appropriate direction for reproduction of said underside by said player arm, and means for moving said structure laterally clear of the played record, whereby said'record is retained by said spindle and freed to drop onto said table.

8. A phonograph comprising a rotatable table, a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a rigid structure arranged to seat on said table and on records supported thereon to rotate therewith, said structure comprising a small elevated turntable arranged to support a record with the recording groove of its underside exposed, escapement means arranged to support a stack of records with the spindle extending through their central openings, means for actuating said esrapement means to release the lowermost record of the stack to drop onto the auxiliary turntable, a player arm arranged to cooperate with said underside, an arm arranged to support said rigid structure and carry it inwardly into co-axial relation to said spindle and outwardly clear of a record which has been played on its turntable whereby the played record drops onto the turntable,

said arm and structure being provided with slots alignable with the path of the spindle relative to the structure during their inward and outward movements, means on said arm and said structure for arresting said structure on said arm with said slots aligned with said path, and means for driving said table and auxiliary turntable in appropriate direction for reproduction of said underside by said player arm.

9. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a structure arranged to sit on said turntable and on records carried thereby, in substantially co-axial relation to said spindle, said structure providing a small elevated auxiliary turntable arranged to support a record centered by said spindle with the recording groove on its underside exposed, player arm means arranged to cooperate with the underside of a record on said auxiliary turntable or the upper side of a record on the turntable, an arm arranged to engage and support said structure, means including a record dropping escapement arranged to support a stack of records above said turntable, reversible means for driving said turntable in either direction, record changing mechanism, trip means controlled by said player arm means to initiate a cycle of operation of said record changing mechanism at the end of the reproduction of a cycle, automatic means for varying each alternate cycle, said mechanism being arranged in one cycle to move the player arm means up and out, to move the arm in to bring the structure into co-axial alignment with the turntable and down to separate the arm from the structure so that it may rest freely on the turntable to rotate therewith, to actuate the escapement means to drop a record onto the auxiloutwardly to permit said record to drop and then inwardly to initial playing position and then downwardly to engage the upper surface of the dropped record and to reverse said reversible means.

10. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a rigid structure arranged to seat freely on said turntable in generally co-axial relation to said spindle, said structure providing an elevated small turntable, an arm arranged to support and transport said structure laterally into and out of saidco-axial relation, means for elevating said arm to engage said structure in said co-axial position to raise it from its seated condition, means for moving said arm outwardly to clear the position of records on said turntable, means for moving said arm inwardly to carry said structure into said co-axial position and then downwardly to disengage said arm from said structure and allow the structure to become seated.

11. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a rigid structure arranged to seat freely on said turntable in generally co-axial relation to said spindle, said structure providing an elevated small turntable, an arm arranged to support and transport said structure laterally into and out of said co-axial relation, means for elevating said arm to engage said structure in said co-axial position to raise it from its seated condition, means on said arm and said structure for arresting said structure in a definite position on said arm, means for moving said arm outwardly to clear the position of records on said turntable, means for moving said arm inwardly to carry said structure into said co-axial position and then downwardly to disengage said arm from said structure and allow the structure to become seated, said structure and said arm being provided with slots which register in said definite position and which provide an open path for the spindle during the inward and outward movements of said arm.

12. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a rigid structure arranged to seat freely on said turntable in generally co-axial relation to said spindle, said structure providing an 15 elevated small turntable, an arm arranged to support and transport said structure laterally into and out of said co-axial relation, means for elevating said arm to engage said structure in said co-axial position to raise it from its seated condition, means for rotating said turntable, cooperating latch means on said arm and structure arranged to engage as the structure rotates and the arm rises to arrest said structure in a definite position on said arm, means for moving said arm outwardly to clear the position of records on said turntable, means for moving said arm inwardly to carry said structure into said co-axial position and then downwardly to disengage said arm from said structure and allow the structure to become seated, said structure and said arm being provided with slots which register in said definite position and which provide an open path for the spindle during the inward and outward-movements of said arm.

13. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, a rigid structure arranged to seat freely on said turntable in generally co-axial relation to said spindle, said structure providing an elevated small turntable, an arm arranged to support and transport said structure laterally into and out of said co-axial relation, means for elevating said arm to engage said structure in said co-axial position to raise it from its seated condition, cooperating cam elements on said arm and structure whereby the structure moves to a definite position on said arm by gravity as the arm lifts the structure, means for moving said arm outwardly to clear the position of records on said turntable, means for moving said arm inwardly to carry said structure into said co-axial position and then downwardly to disengage said arm from said structure and allow the structure to become seated, said structure and said arm being provided with slots which register in said definite position and which provide an open path for the spindle during the inward and outward movements of said arm.

14. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a rigid structure comprising a base and an upper surface adapted to serve as a record support, an arm arranged to elevate and support said structure comprising a ringlike portion, complementary supporting means on said ringlike portion and on said structure arranged to center the structure on the ringlike portion when the arm is raised, said arm being arranged to move clear of the structure by downward movement after the base is seated, and complementary latch means on said arm and structure arranged to be brought into engagement to arrest the structure in a definite position on said arm when the arm is raised while the structure is being rotated.

15. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a rigid structure comprising a base and an upper surface adapted to serve as a record support, an arm arranged to elevate and support said structure comprising a ringlike portion, said arm being capable of being disengaged from said structure by downward movement, means on said structure and on said ringlike structure arranged to engage when the arm is raised, last said means comprising inclined surfaces and members to engage them, whereby the structure is brought to a definite position relative to the arm by gravity as the arm is raised.

16. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a rigid structure comprising a base and an upper surface adapted to serve as a record support, an arm arranged to elevate and support said structure comprising a ringlike portion, said arm being capable of being disengaged from said structure by downward movement, means on said structure and on said ringlike structure arranged to engage when the arm is raised, comprising two pairs of cams concentric in plan, arranged to cooperate during upward movement of the arm so that the structure is rotated by gravity into a definite position relative to the arm as the low points on the upper set of cams move down to the lowest points on the lower set of cams.

1'7. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a rigid structure comprising a base and an upper surface adapted to serve as a record support, an arm arranged to elevate and support said structure comprising a ringlike portion said arm being capable of being disengaged from said structure by downward movement, a pair of cams concentric in plan on said ring-shaped portion having diametrically opposed high and low points, said high points being diametrically opposed and said low points being diametrically opposed, and a pair of complementary cam means on the upper structure each adapted to cooperate with a corresponding cam on the ring-shaped structure, whereby upward movement of the arm brings. the cam means of the structure into contact with the cams on the arm, whereby the structure is rotated into a definite position on the arm as the low points of the cams move into engagement.

CARL G. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

